13th OIC Summit Kicks Off in Istanbul

President Erdogan meets with Indonesian VP Jusuf Kalla on the sidelines of the Islamic Summit.

Istanbul, 08 Rajab 1437, 15 April 2016 (MINA) – The 13th Islamic Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) started here Thursday its activities under the theme “Unity and Solidarity for Justice and Peace”.

The Summit was kicked off under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) reported, quoting SPA.

The opening session of the summit commenced by reciting verses from the holy Quran. Then, the Turkish President declared the opening of the Islamic Summit Conference in its 13th session in Istanbul.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the leaders and heads of delegations of Muslim countries participating in the conference.

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He said “I welcome you in your second homeland, Turkey, and I thank all those who contributed to the preparation for this conference where we are being honored by your attendance,” expressing thanks to the OIC Secretary General, Iyad bin Amin Madani.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud delivered his speech urgng Islamic countries to address the Islamic nation’s causes topped by finding a just solution to the Palestinian issue in accordance with the Arab peace initiative and international legitimacy’s resolutions, and put an end to the Syrian crisis according to the decisions of Geneva 1 and Security Council resolution 2254, as well as to support the existing efforts to end the Libyan crisis.

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On Yemeni cause, the King supports the efforts of the United Nations for the success of consultations to be held in Kuwait in implementation of Security Council resolution 2216.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Egypt Sameh Shoukry had delivered a speech on behalf of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt during which he reviewed the efforts made by his country during the period of its chairmanship of the 12th Islamic Summit Conference.

The Egyptian foreign Minister announced handing over the Chairmanship of the Summit to the Republic of Turkey.

In his speech the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Iyad bin Amin Madani said he wecomed the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and presidents
and heads of states and heads of delegations the participating countries in the summit.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey delivered a speech in which he welcomed the participants, thanking Egypt for its great efforts during chairmanship of
the previous session of the OIC summit. (T/R07/R0)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)